Harness motion for looms



Dec. 7,1926. 1 1,610,021

H. c. MGKENNA I HARNESS MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed March 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Witnwo H .Ncfienncz Dec. 7,1926." 1,610,021

H. c. M KENNA HARNESS MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed March 8, 1926 '2 Sheets-Sheet z EI:? E

/6 f j J Witness ($610M Momwqo Patented Dec. 7, 19 26 UNITED STATES HOWARD C. MCKENNA, OF NEW'BBAUNFELS, TEXAS.

naannss Marion Eon LOOMS.

Application filed March 8, 19261 Serial m. 93,252.

' The invention relates to harness actuation on looms, principally those of the Crompton & Knowles type, having a plurality of shuttle boxes and a box motion for vertically shifting said boxes. I

The principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved construction and relation of parts, whereby an additional harness or harnesses may be operated without resorting to the use of dobbies and the like, the invention being such that it utilizes a part or parts of the ordinary box motion, for the purpose of actuating the harness or harnesses.

A further aim is to provide means of the character described which in certain instances will accomplish the work done by a dobby, yet will cost only an infinitesimal amount, compared to that of such a dobby.

Yet another object is to provide a harness operating means, which, while intended primarily to be actuated by a portion or portions of the ordinary box motion, can be used in connection with the ordinary cam motion or dobby motion, when an extra harness is needed.

The invention is intended for weaving stripe effects and it is controlled by the use of the required number of risers and sinkers on the usual box motion chain of the loom, so that any combination of weaves, such as two up and two down, six up and two down, two up and four down, etc., may be used.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of' a Crompton & Knowles, multiple box loom, equipped with the invention.

- Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly broken away and with numerous partsof the old machine omitted, showing the mounting and parts of the operating means for an added harness.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a number of parts shown in a general way, in Fig. 2.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 5 designates the main frame of the loom, including the usual arch 6, said arch having projecting stub shafts 7 upon which the well known harness sheaves 8 are mounted, straps 9 for supporting the usual harnesses 10, being passed over these sheaves. On the outer ends of the shafts 7 I mount two auxiliary sheaves 11 over which straps 12 pass, the lower ends of these straps being connected with an added harness 13. This harness is raised by the straps 12, but is lowered by coiled springs 14. In addition to these springs, relatively weak springs 15 are preferably connected with the upper portion of the harness 13, the upper ends of said springs 15 being anchored to suitable overhead supports 16. This arrangement of springs causes the harness 13 to operate much more smoothly than would otherwise be possible.

. At one end of the arch 6, a transverse rock shaft 17 is mounted in an appropriate bearing, a portion of which is illustrated at 18. One end of this rock shaft is provided with an arm 19 to which the straps 12 are connected. In establishing this connection, I prefer to provide the straps with a hook or the like 20 engageable with any of a plurality of openings 21 in the arm 19. The other end of shaft 17 is provided with another arm 22, to which a rod 23 is pivoted at its upper end, the pivot 24 being by preference engageable with any of a plurality of openings 25 formed in said arm. By adjusting this pivot, the hook 20, or both, the extent of movement of the frame or harness 13, may be regulated as occasion may demand.

A conventional form of box motion is shown in Fig. 1. In this view 26 and 27 designate the usual front and rear shafts having pinions 28 for mesh with a mutilated gear 29 which is driven in the well known manner. Shifting levers 30 and 31 are provided for the two shafts 26 and 27, so as to throw them into or out of mesh with the gear 29 atproper intervals. These levers are provided with operating rods 32 and 33 respectively, which rods are controlled by the usual risers and sinkers of the well known a box motion chain. As the construction and functionof this chain are well known, it is not herein disclosed. H

On the shaft 26, the usual crank disc 34 having a crank pin or wrist pin 35,'is secured. A similar crank disc and crank pin exist upon the shaft 2'? but do not appear in the present drawing. Above the two shafts, the usual box-lifting lever 36 is disposed, the intermediate portionof this lever being connected by the usual means, shown in part at 37, with the wrist pin of the shaft 27, so that the movements of this wrist pin will swing the lever 36. Urdinarily, the end of this lever, remote from the boxes, is connected by a link (not shown) with the wrist pin 35 of the shaft 26. I remove this link however and substitute an anchoring link 38, the lower end of this link being socured to the box motion frame by a bolt or the like 39, while its upper end is connected with the lever 36, by a fulcrum bolt 40. Grdinarily, when the box lifting lever 36 is linked to the wrist pin 35 and operatively connected also with the wrist pin of of the shaft 27, movements are imparted to said lever by both shafts 26 and 27, when the latter are rotated by. the gear 29. By removing the link however and anchoring one end of the lever 36 to the frame, it is influenced only by the wrist pin of the shaft 27, permitting only two of the shuttle boxes to function, whereas previously all four were at different stages, capable of being brought into operation.

To the wrist pin 35, from which the above mentioned link is removed, 1 connect the lower end of the rod 23, hereinbefore described. Thus, by the proper placing of risers and sinkers upon the usual box motion chain, to control the movements of the rod 32 and consequently the meshing and unmeshing of the pinion 28 with the gear 29, to in turn control the movements of the wrist pin 35, 1 cause this wrist pin to impart motion at proper times, to the rod 23. This rod 23 transmits its motion to the rock shaft 17, through the instrumentality of the arm 22, causing said rock shaft to swing the arm 19 to pull upon the straps 12, such pulling serving to raise the added harness 13.

By equipping an ordinary box motion loom, in the manner described, stripe effects may be produced in numerous weaves, and it will be seen that l utilize the shaft 27 and associated parts for swinging lever 36 to raise and lower the sh 'ttle boxes, whereas the other shaft 26 is utilized to operate the added harness.

The foregoing is illustrative of the inven tion but it is to be understood that I am not restricted thereto, as variations may be made. If the improved harness motion is applied to a four box loom and but one color of filling is to be used, it is possible to drive two harnesses from the box motion using each of the two disc cranks, that is the discs on the shafts 26 and 27 and the wrist pins of said discs.

From the fore 'oin it will be seen that rather simple and inexpensive means have been provided for use in connection with an ordinary box motion loom, enabling it to perform work which cannot ordinarily be accomplished without the use of'a dobby or the like. I am of course aware that a dobby will not only produce the same results as my invention, but will produce other results also, and I make no claim to such invention as a universal substitute for the dobby, by an means. It is however an exceptionally simple and inexpensive equivalent of a dobby for certain characters of work and a Crompton & Knowles four box loom equipped with the invention will operate with absolute success in the production of silk stripe shirting, the silk being woven six up and two down. 7 Other weaves than this however can be and have been produced, and the harness 13 may be moved in practically any desired manner, except that it must stay in one position for at least two picks, as the cylinder motion of the loom operates only on every two picks, on the Crompton & Knowles machines.

I claim:

1. In combination with a loom having a box motion and the ordinary harness; of an auxiliary harness, and operating connections between said'auxiliary harness and a portion of said box motion whereby the auxiliary harness is operated by the box motion.

2. In combination with a loom having a compound box-lifting lever, operating cranks for said lever, and driving means for said cranks; an additional harness, and connecting means between one of said cranks and said harness for operating the latter.

3. In combination with a loom having a compound box-lifting H lever, operating cranks for said lever, at least one of which is operatively disconnected from said lever, and driving means for said cranks; an added harness, and connecting means between said disconnected crank and said harness for operating the latter.

4. In combination with a loom having a compound box-lifting lever, operating cranks for said lever, driving means for said cranks, and connecting means between one of said cranks and said lever for operating the latter; an additional harness, operating connections between another of said cranks and said harness, and means anchoring said lever to the frame of the loom, said anchoring means including a fulcrum about which the lever may swing. V

5. Lhe combination with a supporting frame, the'usual loom harness sheave supporting stubshafts being mounted in said frame and provided with projecting ends; of auxiliary'harness sheaves mounted on said projecting ends, auxiliary harness, straps passing over said sheaves and connected with said harness for raising the latter, coiled springs for lowering the auxiliary harness, weaker springs connecting said auxiliary harness with overhead supports whereby smooth operation is insured, box motion mechanism mounted on said frame, a rock shaft mounted on said frame and having laterally extended arms, with one of which said auxiliary harness straps areconnected, the other arm being connected with a portion of said box motion mechanism whereby 10 the auxiliary harness is actuated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

HOWARD C. MCKENNA. 

